"Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor. In fact, I've seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment. That feature not only isn't happening, it's being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8's stable mate) as well." When you buy a new machine later this year, you will use Metro, an environment wholly inferior, incomplete, and not at all ready to replace the traditional desktop in any way, shape, or form. Whether you like it or not.

Those 15 windows are in what is essentially a virtual operating system instance, but without any 'coherence' mode to integrate those into Metro. In other words, when you inevitably end up in Metro, you can't go straight to the window you want - you first need to switch to the desktop, and then find the window you want.

Someone commented in your "Whats wrong with Win8" piece that alt-tab allows one to go directly to a particular window within the desktop, even from metro. So you don't have to first switch to the desktop, then switch to the desired window within the desktop.